A bit anxious............

[Mary Jo]

Good Morning everyone,

I'm a bit anxious and needed to share with those who understand. I've been having an ache on the side of myleft thigh. If you let your arm hang down it's right where your fingertips go. It feels like a muscle but I have to admit it scares me a little bit. It's been bugging me for a few months.

The "reason it out" side of me says that if it were bone cancer I would have trouble walking/running. That it would hurt me and actually at those times it feels the best. When I get up from sitting it "pulls" or "aches" their but as I move it feels better. It doesn't hurt to lay on it but when I stretch my leg or pull it certain ways I can feel it. I'm on my feet a lot during a day - walking over 5 miles a day just at work - powerwalking/jogging etc. and no pain at those times. So................................................ ......you think it's nothing, right?http://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif I know I need to mention it at my next onc. visit (the end of Dec.) but the thought of tests and "looking" doesn't thrill me. We'll see how it is by then but for now just looking for some reassurance from the people who have been through it. This is the part of this "journey" that often ticks me off. The "what ifs" the "what now" times, ya know? Oh well, I'll leave it with the One who has my life in His hands and just trust that all is alright. I'll deal with whatever comes my way (like I have any other choicehttp://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif) and continue on my "merry" way.

Thanks for listening everyone. I'd like to hear what you have to say about it.

Praying for God's Peace to hold each of us as we journey along.

Mary Jo

[Sheila]

Marejo
It almost sounds like neuropathy....or low potassium...just the fact that it feels better when you are moving tells me its NOT the big C in the B! It isn't warm to the touch or swollen is it? Are you doing anything different at work or home that could account for the "soreness?" Better to get it checked....if you want to find out if its low Potassium, load up on bananas and OJ for a few days, if it goes away, you have your answer.
Sending lots of love and prayers....I know how worried everything makes us...

[KellyA]

Hi Mary Jo,

I hope that I can make you feel a little better- But I do understand that its hard not to worry. I had a very similar problem with my hip last fall/winter. It ached pretty badly, was very stiff (especially after sitting or not moving around for a while) and did not hurt to the touch at first, but eventually did with more time. It was funny though, because as I walked on it, the pain would get better. It bothered me for 2-3 months and they finally CT'd it. Everything was ok, but it continued to hurt for another 2 months or so. It recently has started back up, although not as bad. You may just have some arthritic changes, and especially with the fall and winter months, its just acting up. I also started roller blading before this started, so I may have torn something with that. Is is possible that you could have injured it or pulled something without knowing it?

Love, Kelly

[jones7676]

When I had a bone met in my femur, the more I did the more it ached. By the time it got bad (last Thanksgiving), just standing by the stove all day cooking made it ache so bad I was up all night. Therefore, I would be very surprized if it were. I'm betting it is some kind of vitamin deficiency or something like that. I would still have it checked out, but I hope this is some reassurance to you.

[Mary Jo]

Thank you ladies for your reassurant posts. I, too, believe in my heart it is nothing because of how it is acting BUT being who we all are now there is always that underlying worry of "things" that persist or are different.

Sheila, no, it is not warm or swollen and no it doesn't hurt to touch. As a matter of fact I just now got off the treadmill after running 30 minutes on it and there is no pain whatsoever in doing that. So, it sounds encouraging but yes, when I see my onc. for my 6 month visit the end of December I will mention it if it isn't greatly improved or gone. (praying for that thoughhttp://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif)

Again thanks everyone. Your love and encouragement is always something I thank God for. He sends the most awesome people are way, doesn't He????????????????????????????

Love to all,

Mary Jo

[Becky]

From one runner to another - you pulled something. I get 2 kinds of pains (and I am just getting over an injury - self inflicted by upping my mileage too quickly). One kind of pain is caused by fatigue of a muscle. And believe it or not - that kind of pain passes while exercising. I know it sounds weird but its true. The other kind (like my tendon in my calf) hurts but hurts worse when running (its better now - long story on my stupidity). Bone met pain does not go away. It may hurt more when fatigued but it will still hurt later but maybe not as much.

Another thing you can do to see if it is bone (I did this as my calf was in the front inbetween the muscle and bone. I did not think I had bone mets but I thought I might have a stress fracture as I ran over 40 miles in 3 days -very overzealous girl I was). I sat down and massaged my leg in little circles trying to determine exactly where the pain was (specifically). Try to do this. Use lotion as it will help. Since it has been there a long time, you can apply heat (as you only apply cold to an injury in the first 24 hrs to reduce swelling). After that, heat will increase circulation to assist healing.

But I'm tellin' ya - if its okay when jogging, its not bone! I just got back (literally) from a 7 miler and my tendon felt slightly stressed but okay. Now that I'm sitting here, its fine. And so are you (but mention it anyway).

[Mary Jo]

Thanks Becky. I had to chuckle at the end of your post "I'm fine and so are you.........but get it checked anyway!" Too funny! I will get it checked but only if it is the same as it is now or worse. Otherwise I'm not mentioning it. If it hurt while powerwalking and/or running I would be very concerned but it never does. I run up a 1 block hill also everyday - a couple times a day often - you'd think that would hurt like hell if it was a bone cancer. So, I guess, I know it isn't - BUT - we all know the fears associated with this "s h i _ _ y" disease and the fear part is the WORST part. I'm getting better and better with that part as I am learning to trust and know that it is all out of my hands anyway BUT hey, I'm not perfect YEThttp://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif!

Sheila, I received a box of chocolates from a friend in CA yesterday. I've told myself ONE piece a day (yesterday I had 3 - oh ok, shoot me - today is another day and I only had 1 - SO FAR) Anyway, while I was chewing this wonderful chocolate/caramel concoction I was thinking about your comment to me about a potassium defiiency and that I should load up on O.J. and/or bananas. Then I thought - geez, why couldn't she tell me I had a chocolate deficiency and to load up on chocolate. That sounds WAYYYYY better than O.J. or bananas! Anyway, just had to share that with you.

As always - praying for God's Peace to be with each of us as we journey together.

Thanks.

MJ

[TriciaK]

You can always dip the bananas in chocolate, MJ! I agree with all the comments that the pain is probably NOT bone cancer, but also agree it is good to get anything checked that causes us concern. And with a history of BC, I guess we are going to be concerned about anything new. It comes with the territory. Of course at my age (I'll be 78 tomorrow!) there are so many new aches and pains and other twinges every day I have learned to pretty much ignore most of them. It's been 6 months now since my last BC checkup, and I find myself getting a little paranoid and apprehensive about the tests and oncologist visit due in the next couple of weeks. Still, I've been NED for a couple of years now after the her2 mets in 2004, and as you know it's been 22 years since my first BC, so while I may prepare for the worst, I still hope for and expect the best! Let us know what your onc says when you check with him next and we will be praying it's just a pulled muscle. Hugs, Tricia

[nitewind]

Strange you should mention this. I have the same thing only on my left leg, in the same area as yours. I told my onc about it a couple of monthes ago and he ordered (of all things) an Xray. He called to tell me there was nothing broken (duh)! He hasn't seemed concerned about it so I guess (hope) it's nothing. But you are right about always thinking the worst first!
Tricia, am I to understand that tomorrow is your birthday? The 9th? Mine too!!!! Happy early birhday and I hope you have some fun and really enjoy yourself. Many, many more!
Hugs

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

It sounds like it could be a siatica nerve. Those can radiate down your legs. It does not sound like anything to worry about to me but if it continues, I would certainly mention it to your onc. Since it hurts in certain positions, it might be the pressure on a nerve. Maybe try taking a little anti-inflammatory med. to see if that helps.

Try not to worry too much.

[Barbara2]

I have had something similiar in the same area. Sometimes lasts for quite a while (month?) but off and on, never stays. Eventually it went away, so figured it was a muscle or spasm or something. Once in a while it returns, but then I remember it will go away, so I try not to worry!

Take a heating pad to bed with you. I'd leave it on for half an hour or so. I'd also try an anti-inflammatory. I also have good results with the sticky hot-type pads that are applied to muscles or the ointment that is rubbed in.

I've read where bone cancer can be worse at night; so much that it can keep you awake. It sure sounds like muscle.

[dhealey]

It could be many things, none of which would be cancer coming back. Would hurt like the devil if it was a bone met. Yes, you can put chocolate on bannanas. It tastes heavenly! I have problems with my potassium and when it is low my legs ache quite a bit. I would have some blood work done. If it was a bone met your calcium, alk. phos, and phosphorus would be elevated.

[suzan w]

A friend of mine had a weird pain in her leg...not sciatica but something else (can't remember what it is called!) something to do with a ligament that wraps around a muscle from one's butt to calf???Anyway, exercises and massage worked wonders. She had the same symptoms as you, vague pain in her thigh at the fingertip level! Always a good idea to get aches and pains checked out thought. I know that I, for one, never am able to ignore an ache with my old sense of "oh it is probably nothing"...that was before breast cancer...now the game has changed!!!